The new eight-team league has announced a five-year agreement to hold the semifinals, third-place game and championship at the downtown arena beginning in March 2014.

Target Center is used primarily for basketball and concerts, but Minnesota and Wisconsin have played college hockey there a half-dozen times over the years and the WCHA held its Final Five tournament there in 2000 while Xcel Energy Center was under construction in St. Paul. Xcel Energy Center will host the inaugural Big Ten hockey tournament, also in March 2014.

The NCHC begins play next year for the 2013-14 season, with Colorado College, Denver, Miami of Ohio, Minnesota Duluth, Nebraska Omaha, North Dakota, St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.